Heaping back-handed praise on Narendra Modi's election campaign, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the BJP prime minister candidate has "succeeded in reaching each and every home" in the country on the back of "the electronic media". Chavan does not, however, believe in the much-discussed "Modi wave". He expressed confidence that the Congress-NCP combine will improve its performance in Maharashtra, helping the UPA come to power again at the Centre. Excerpts from an interview:

Maharashtra saw a record voter turnout in the first two phases. Does this bode ill for Cong-NCP?

I don't think so. The unprecedented voter turnout was partly due to the enthusiasm of first-time voters and partly due to the incumbency factor. It is not necessary that all first-time voters will vote against the Congress-NCP combine. A large number of them will vote for the Congress, particularly Rahul Gandhi. The incumbency factor too will not adversely affect us since the front has fielded fresh faces in most constituencies.

Is there a Modi wave?

I don't think there is a Modi wave, but I must concede that he has succeeded in reaching out to each and every home in the country due to the presence of the electronic media. To listen to him, one need not attend his rally; it can be done from home. But a negative opinion has formed of him since he has continuously launched personal attacks on the PM and members of the Gandhi family. This is the first time a prime ministerial candidate has done so. Modi's style of campaigning will benefit the Congress. One has the right to criticise, but Modi lacks vision. He was upset with our food security and employment guarantee schemes, but was unable to provide us options that would help the cause of the poor.

How will the minority communities vote?

During my state-wide campaign, I addressed over 100 meetings. I was told that members of the minority communities were scared of Modi and may not vote for the BJP.

Is it true that the Congress will not renominate those MLAs from whose assembly segments the party loses votes in the Lok Sabha election?

We expect all sitting legislators to work hard for the Congress nominees. If the vote margin is huge, the party will have to take a decision.

What's your opinion of Uddhav Thackeray and the Sena?

He is trying, but he will not succeed. A split in Shiv Sena votes will benefit the Congress and NCP. In the 2009 election, we secured the six seats in Mumbai owing to this factor. But we will get votes irrespective of this. Shiv Sena revolves around one person; such a policy can never help the organisation.

MNS has accused you of misleading over toll collection. Will the issue have an impact?

I met a Raj Thackeray-led delegation and tried sorting out the issue. But no assurances were given. His statement afterwards that the row will be resolved before the polls was misleading.

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Heaping back-handed praise on Narendra Modi’s election campaign, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the BJP prime minister candidate has “succeeded in reaching each and every home” in the country on the back of “the electronic media”. Chavan does not, however, believe in the much-discussed “Modi wave”.